Schmidt strolled through the brightly lit streets of Paris until 2:30 a.m., when the overwhelming fatigue finally overtook his excitent, urging him to return to his hotel for rest.
Throughout the night, he had purchased countless fashion items, health products, and handicrafts. His servant was already exhausted from carrying all the bags, so much so that they had to hire a young boy to help carry the load.
Schmidt was staying at the luxurious "Royal Garden" hotel, where even the suites were equipped with gas lamps that emitted a light as bright as the sun. Just this feature alone made him feel that the extra 3 florins he spent to stay there was a wise decision.
As he gazed out at the Parisian streets, adorned with countless twinkling lights, he couldn't help but feel that this city was worlds apart from Munich.
He recalled the clean, bright streets, the bustling crowds, the stylish and beautiful French won, and the exquisite goods displayed in the shop windows. The lingering taste of the North African feast he had just enjoyed—shrimp, oysters, and nuts—still danced on his tongue.
His servant, after dropping the pile of purchases on the table and rubbing his sore arms, looked out at the vibrant cityscape and exclaid, "Oh, I think heaven must look sothing like this!"
For once, Schmidt didn't mock him for his lack of worldly experience. Instead, he found himself nodding in agreent.
The next morning, at 6 a.m., Schmidt was awakened by a knock on his door. It was the hotel attendant. "Mr. Schmidt, you asked to wake you up early. It's already 6 o'clock."
"Oh, alright, thank you."
Groggily, Schmidt forced himself out of bed, quickly washed up, and headed out with his servant to the Palais Royal.
Several mbers of the Bavarian Chamber of Comrce were already waiting at the entrance. Schmidt hurried over, exchanging pleasantries with his old acquaintances.
Soon, lively music filled the air, and the French Minister of Industry, Mirabeau, delivered a long speech. After releasing a flock of white doves, the gates of the Palais Royal slowly opened.
Holding a VIP pass, Schmidt didn't have to wait in line like other visitors. Instead, he entered the Palais Royal through a special entrance.
When the gardens of the Palais Royal appeared before him, Schmidt's eyes widened in astonishnt.
He had attended so expos and fairs before—Austria had been hosting "European Expos" for over a decade, and Britain had held similar events—but those were essentially just fancy country fairs. Workshops or rchants would display so fine goods, governnt officials would bring nobles and wealthy people to take a look, then host so banquets and balls, and finally, the event would end with little fanfare.
But what Schmidt saw now was no "country fair." It was a grand, magnificent display, with national pavilions separated by towering wooden walls or intricate garden designs.
The Austrian pavilion, the closest to him, featured miniature replicas of iconic buildings like the Hofburg Music Hall and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Nearby, the North African pavilion was designed to resemble a diterranean port, with a model of the Roman Colosseum peeking out from within[Note 1].
When Schmidt and the other distinguished guests entered the Austrian pavilion, they were greeted by Austria's signature industry—glassware.
However, unlike the simple displays of products he had seen before, this exhibition showcased an entire glass production process model, with craftsn demonstrating the techniques.
As Schmidt watched the intricate process unfold, resulting in a beautifully crafted colored glass decanter, he felt as though the object had been imbued with a soul.
The exhibit continued with displays of leather tanning, iron refining, and more…
In the past, Schmidt would have glanced over such exhibits, perhaps giving a few polite complints on the craftsmanship. But today, he found himself lingering in the Austrian pavilion for over an hour, only leaving reluctantly when the general public began to crowd in. Following the signs, he made his way to the Dutch pavilion next door.
There, Schmidt was quickly captivated by a demonstration of shipbuilding. When he saw a newly designed river cargo ship, his eyes lit up.
As the second-largest shipping operator in Bavaria, Schmidt imdiately realized that this type of ship could significantly reduce his costs.
He eagerly approached the representatives at the Dutch pavilion to inquire about the shipyard's location and other details, planning to purchase a few ships after the expo ended.
However, upon hearing his inquiry, a nearby expo staff mber smiled and inford him that the Palais Royal's second floor housed a business hall where detailed information on all exhibited items was available. He could even sign contracts and conduct transactions right there.
After paying a small deposit, Schmidt was led to the business hall by an attendant, where he saw lawyers and bank employees ready to assist.
Before lunchti, Schmidt had already signed a purchase agreent with the shipyard and, under the witness of a lawyer, paid a small deposit. The money was conveniently transferred directly to the Netherlands through a French bank.
Returning to the main exhibition area in the gardens of the Palais Royal, Schmidt couldn't help but marvel to himself, "I never knew an expo could be like this!"
At the sa ti, visitors in the various pavilions of the Palais Royal were expressing similar sentints. "I never knew an expo could be like this."
"It's simply amazing!"
"This trip to Paris was worth it. What an eye-opener."
The widespread amazent was exactly what Joseph had anticipated. After all, the business events and expos of the 21st century were already highly advanced and polished. Joseph had rely adapted and implented those ideas, creating an experience that was a "dinsional reduction strike" in a ti when the world's first world's fair was still half a century away.
Everything at this expo, from the pavilion designs to the demonstrations and models, was carefully planned under his guidance, ensuring top quality.
This was even considering the short preparation ti. If there had been more ti, they could have included national costus, dances, and even cuisines from different countries, making the expo even more sensational! Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
The next day, when Schmidt finally visited the French pavilion, he was completely stunned.
Visitors were seated in tour cars powered by a steam engine, which automatically traveled along a track that circled the pavilion.
Inside the massive pavilion, there were displays ranging from high-pressure steam engines to new automated looms, from luxurious and comfortable carriages to innovative synthetic board furniture, from gas streetlights to advanced steel-making techniques...
The plethora of new inventions left him overwheld. The various products were all exquisitely crafted and exuded a sense of high quality. After just a few hours of touring, Schmidt's impression of France had risen by several notches!
[Note 1]The Colosseum ntioned here refers to the El Jem Amphitheatre built during Roman rule in Tunisia, located in the suburbs of Sousse.
(End of Chapter)
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